Category Archives: music

The Grammy’s thoughts…

Yes, I did watch the Grammy’s last night ’cause I had nothing else better to do and I watched the show just for laughs alone. Predictably most of it was a pretty bad show but I think this year’s was the worse but thankfully Ac/Dc saved it at the beginning of it. I’m glad they put Ac/Dc as the first performer, otherwise we would have to get struck through a bad show just to see them. Ac/Dc killed it as expected! The band played their own instruments… there was no miming and lip-syncing to a backing track. Ac/Dc can really play and Brian Johnsonw was really singing. You can tell the band was doing everything for real! I think it’s safe to say that Ac/Dc was the only good thing about last night’s show. Ac/Dc is real music there and the band showed the Grammy’s artists how to really perform live!

Anyway, most of the show last night was boring ’cause there were way too many live performances and less awards given. I mean, really? Most of the performances the artists performed slow ballads. I was bored to tears when Lady Gaga and Tony got up there.

I even hated Kanye West’s performance… all he did was stand on a light with smoke coming out of it and moving his arms around while lip-syncing to a backing track.

The Awards given to was laughable as usual except I was pretty surprised that Beck won for “Album of the Year” for his newest album, “Morning Phase”. I used to like Beck but not anymore. I stopped liking Beck after the “Odelay” album ’cause I liked his earlier stuff more when he was doing the folk music thing like all the stuff he did on the “Mellowgold” album, that’s the kind of Beck I wanna hear. Beck has gone a bit too pop, in my opinion but I’m still happy for him that he won, though. Beck winning is better than Beyonce winning.

One thing I was disgusted with last night’s Grammy’s was that they ended the show with a “Black History Month” kind of thing and they payed tribute to the movie, “Selma” and that little thug, Michael Brown. I mean, really? I think the only reason they did that ’cause it was their way of making liberals and the black community happy ’cause their Beyonce didn’t win, “Album of the Year”. The Grammy’s did that ’cause they didn’t want to anger Al Sharpton and the race baiters. It was proven over and over again, that Michael Brown was a criminal and thug… and they just honored him last night. Typical liberal Hollywood! Nothing new there.

I’m sure Al Sharpton and the racebaiters are gonna be pissed that Beyonce didn’t win “Album of the Year” but they need to get over themselves and they need to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them, that’s not how life works, ya know?

Once again, Ac/Dc was the only good thing about last night’s show and I’m glad to see Chris Slade back in the band.

Kev

Bob Dylan’s speech at MusicCares really was powerful, inspiring and moving… thanks Bob!!!

I was never that big of a Bob Dylan fan over the years but I guess I am now. Bob Dylan’s half hour speech at MusiCares is not in youtube yet… couldn’t find the video online anywhere so I read the transcript.

Read it here…

Bob Dylan’s Full MusiCares Speech: How He Wrote the Songs, a Master Class Must Read

My favorite part is when Bob lashed out at his critics and haters about his singing and songwriting, Bob said…

“Oh, yeah. Critics have been giving me a hard time since Day One. Critics say I can’t sing. I croak. Sound like a frog. Why don’t critics say that same thing about Tom Waits? Critics say my voice is shot. That I have no voice. What don’t they say those things about Leonard Cohen? Why do I get special treatment? Critics say I can’t carry a tune and I talk my way through a song. Really? I’ve never heard that said about Lou Reed. Why does he get to go scot-free?
What have I done to deserve this special attention? No vocal range? When’s the last time you heard Dr. John? Why don’t you say that about him? Slur my words, got no diction. Have you people ever listened to Charley Patton or Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters. Talk about slurred words and no diction. [Inaudible] doesn’t even matter.” – Bob Dylan

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I’m feeling him though ’cause I’m in the same boat as him. People gave me shit about my singing, songwriting and talent since day 1 as well. Seriously, people around the music scene online and off gave me a lot of shit but I never cared. I just played music and continued to play ’cause that’s what I do. It’s what I live for.

People always had this debate on whether I was a professional musician or a “hobbyist” but my thought is who cares? If music is what you love to do then go for it, ya know? You don’t have to be the best singer in the world and don’t have to be great at your instrument to do what you love to do. If you can’t sing, who cares.. just go for it. Singers like Neil Young and Billy Corgan weren’t the best vocalists either but they sing anyway ’cause they love it.

People have said lot of nasty things about my singing over the years… talking about having a speech impediment and all that crap. Who cares? Everybody else doesn’t sing all that perfect either. Other peoples speech is a lot worse than my own and they don’t get flak for it.

You don’t have to be a good singer to write songs and make music. As long as the music says something and has heart, that’s all that matters, ya know?

Over the years, I’ve struggled to get recognized as a songwriter. There are local music websites around this area that refused to promote me when I submitted my music to them for a possible shout-out or a small review but got nothing. I usually get mocked, bullied and get made fun of by other musicians around the area and all that rotten garbage. All the cliques did their best and tried to make me feel left out.

So yeah, I’m in the same boat as Dylan. How did I get all of this special attention as well?

You never saw me get on the cover of the Metroland or get a review on Nippertown but that’s okay.

I’m happy what I’m doing is writing songs and making music… that’s all that matters. This music scene likes to make me feel like I’m nothing but that’s okay, let ’em, ya know? I’m a musician like everyone else and no different than them.

Bob Dylan got so much negativity over the years and I can’t blame him for ranting like this. He just wanted to rant and get it off of his system and this was his opportunity. Why was the speech a half-hour? Because he’s fucking Bob Dylan! He’s a legend, he can talk as long as he wants! Rock on, Bob, and thanks! \m/

Kev

My love for rock n’ roll and metal…

Isn’t it funny on how when you play mostly acoustic guitar, people immediately think you’re into country music, folk or bluegrass? It seems to be like that with every acoustic guitarist. Yes, most acoustic guitarists out there are into country, folk and bluegrass ’cause that’s what people would expect them to play when they pick up an acoustic guitar but not me, though! I maybe mostly an acoustic guitarist myself but my preferred genre of music is mostly rock n’ roll and metal.

Don’t get me wrong, though… I do like some country, folk and bluegrass but I’m not really all that big on that genre. I do like listening to Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Sr., Sharon Van Etten and Patty Griffin but that’s about it. I’m not really all that huge on country and folk music.

I do try to get into more country and folk though but rock n’ roll and heavy music is my main genre. Most people seem surprised that I am mostly into rock and metal stuff.

I’ve always been into rock and metal ever since I was a child. When I was a child, I was listening to stuff like Twisted Sister, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, early Metallica, Jethro Tull, The Clash, Aerosmith, etc. My love for rock n’ roll and metal never stopped.

In high school, I started listening to 90’s grunge, punk, some death metal, and hardcore.

These days I’m trying to focus on electric guitar more than acoustic, though. It’s hard to switch to electric ’cause I’m so used to playing acoustic guitar over the years.

While I do listen to all sorts of music, rock and metal would always be my main genres. I’ve always had a love for rock n’ roll and it’s the kind of music I wanna play myself if I ever get my own band going. I wished I picked up the guitar as a child but I didn’t pick up the guitar until the age of 18 after my first guitar instructor first introduced me to Led Zeppelin and Joe Satriani.

I do listen to a little bit of everything else like some blues, jazz, pop & rap but rock & metal will always be my no. 1. I just love hearing music with great guitar playing. My love for rock and metal will never die. I’ll never grow out of it!!! \m/

Kev

Why Dream Theater is the greatest band on Earth right now…

Dream Theater is one of the greatest rock bands on Earth right now. While they are very underrated and not many people know who they are but at the same time, this band is very successful. It may not seem like it but this band also has their share of haters. Some people do respect them as musicians and stuff but James La Brie who is the singer usually gets knocked for his vocals. I don’t know why. I think James La Brie is one of the greatest rock signers out there. His voice is pretty powerful, in my opinion. He really shows heart with his music when he sings and that’s what makes him amazing.

I think Dream Theater is the Led Zeppelin of this generation. I’m trying to collect all of Dream Theater’s albums in their discography. So far they only have 12 albums and I only have six of them. I’m halfway done collecting their music.

I got interested in Dream Theater years ago ’cause the musicians community have always been talking about them in guitar forums and stuff like that so that’s when I finally decided to check them out and I’ve been hooked to their music ever since. I think the first Dream Theater album I bought was “Octavarium”. Yeah, I was pretty late getting into them but that’s okay.

Dream Theater is a fucking amazing band. John Petrucci is beginning to be one of my favorite guitarists and that’s what I love about the band the most is his guitar playing.

What I love about these guys is that they are not worried about writing hit songs that you can sing along and dance to. They’re about writing music that they are proud of. I admire that in bands. So you’re never gonna see this band all over the mainstream industry. They maybe pretty mainstream in the musicians world but outside of that, no.

The whole band are great musicians. I think John Myung is pretty sick on the bass and Jordan is sick on the keyboards as well. I would love to see Dream Theater live in concert and never got to. So far out of all the Dream Theater albums I’ve listened to, I think “Images and Words” is the best Dream Theater album but that’s just me.

I also can’t wait for the new Dream Theater album later this year as I will get it right when it comes out for sure. I’m sure they will go on tour for it and I hope they do play Albany when they do, though. I would like to get my chance to see them live.

I’d like to see this band get their time in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” ’cause this is one band worthy of an induction.

Dream Theater just rules. They are beginning to be one of my top 10 favorite bands right now.

Kev

Pretty cool guitar lesson video with Joe Bonamassa…

Here is blues guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, giving guitar players a lesson himself. While most people think he’s a guitar genius and I think he is, even this guy doesn’t even think so. He clearly admitted that he doesn’t even know what he’s doing most of the time and he just says that he does his best trying to stay in key throughout a song.

In this video he gives guitar players advice that we should know the fretboard. Be able to play in every key and every fret which sound like good advice to me. I’ll take this advice myself.

See? Even famous guitar players don’t even think they’re all that great… they just like to play for the love of it just like the rest of us musicians.

Joe Bonamassa is a bad ass though. I love his music. I only have one album of his in my Itunes and was meaning to get more of his music sometime.

Kev

Why are people afraid to say that Bobbi Kristina did this to herself???

I find it interesting how people refuse to acknowledge Bobbi Kristina’s own responsibility to how she is now. Whatever drugs she took, the media refuses to say what happened to her. They refuse to say how she got in that coma. People are still being silent about her possible drug overdose. Even her supporters won’t acknowledge her drug overdose, instead you see people sending her prayers and being compassionate. People were quick to target other celebrities for dying of a drug overdose such as Whitney Houston, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Michael Jackson but people are being compassionate for Bobbi K.

Yeah, there are some people on the internet that acknowledge’s Bobbi K’s own responsibility of drug use but when they call out on that, her supporters will attack them saying they should be more respectful and more compassionate. You see it all over social networking.

While my heart goes out to the friends and family of the Brown family, they and the media should accept Bobbi K’s own responsibility to what she did to herself. Sure enough, they are trying to make it look like someone else did this to her. They just don’t wanna believe she did to herself, she made that decision to get on drugs.

It’s looking like that Bobbi K. isn’t gonna make it and people are making all kinds of speculation that she wants to die so she can be in peace with her mother.

All of this is pretty sad yes but people have to accept the fact that junkies do this to themselves. Why won’t people accept that Bobbi K. did to herself? Why are people so protective of her with her drug addiction? Is it because she is young and black? That whole Brown/Houston family had a history of drug addiction that includes the rapper Bobby.

From the looks of things Bobby and Whitney both made their daughter this way. They were really bad parents while Bobbi K. was growing up and she learned to take drugs from her parents…. check out this article for proof on that. Bobby and Whitney even smoked crack in front of her while she was a little girl…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2941425/I-saw-Whitney-Bobby-smoke-crack-daughter-just-five-Houston-s-driver-reveals-drug-horror-childhood-Bobbi-Kristina-family-prepare-say-goodbye.html

People wants to believe that Bobbi K. became a drug addict right after Whitney died but from the looks of things look like Bobbi K. was a drug addict long before then even back when Whitney was alive. I’m sure Bobbi K’s drug addiction got a lot worse after Whitney’s death, however.

Bobby and Whitney were bad parents. This maybe hard on Bobby but he did this to himself as well. He should be ashamed of himself and this is what he got. This is what he did to his own daughter and he did this to Whitney too.

Kev

The real Neil Young finally performs with his impersonator on “The Tonight Show” w/ Jimmy Fallon…

For the past couple of years, Jimmy Fallon have been impersonating Neil Young on his late night talk shows but the real Neil Young have never came out to perform with him until now. It finally happened last night and it was a great performance too. Even Jimmy did a great job. I did watch this episode last night ’cause as some of you may know I’m a pretty big Neil Young fan. Neil went on his show to plug in his Pono player and his album, “Storytone”, plus Neil performed a song with the Roots too.

Neil Young is 69 and he’s still killing it.

Kev

Listen to Ritchie Valens and his band rehearse “La Bamba”…

This is one of my favorite things to listen to. Ritchie in the studio teaching his band how to play “La Bamba” and they rehearse the song. If you listen carefully, Ritchie really shows his true passion for music and this is what he was meant to do. It’s a shame that his life was taken so soon. He was too young. He was fucking talented, though. Ritchie has always been my favorite for years and still love him today.

Kev

Why is the media silent about drugs when it comes to Bobbi Kristina???

When the report of Bobbi Kristina being found unresponsive in the bathtub and been rushed to the hospital got out there, there were no mention of drugs. Some people immediately speculated that she probably did get OD’d on crack and like most people, I think she probably did too.

When Whitney Houston was found in the bathtub, everybody was quick to blame it on drugs, it was all over the media. When it comes to Bobbi Kristina; however, nobody wants to put drugs in the news headlines. You can see that Bobbi Brown her father is keeping quiet on the drugs as well.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bobby-brown-issues-statement-on-daughters-hospitalization-20150202

Isn’t it funny how people gave Whitney so much shit for getting herself killed on crack but they are more compassionate toward Bobbie Kristina? People being sympathetic toward Bobbi Kristina are probably the same people who gave Whitney so much hate and disrespect.

Maybe it’s because of Bobbi Kristina’s young age, maybe that’s the reason most people are being compassionate. Back when Whitney died of crack overdose, people were like, “She did this to herself, it was her fault” and it’s just weird how some don’t feel the same toward Bobbi Kristina.

It shouldn’t matter how old someone else is. Drugs aren’t cool. If death or hospitalization happens, they did bring it upon themselves.

Why is the media protecting Bobbi Kristina over the drugs? It just seems strange to me…

Kev